道德經上篇：《道經》
第十二章
【原文】
五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聾，五味令人口爽①，馳騁畋獵②，令人心發狂，難得之貨，令人行妨③。是以聖人為腹不為目④，故去彼取此⑤。
【注釋】
①爽：指口腔味覺發生毛病。
②田久：打獵。
③妨：本指妨礙、損害的意思，這裏特指盜竊、掠奪之類行為。
④腹：是指內在自我。目：指外在自我或感覺世界。
⑤彼：指外。此：指內。
【譯文】
五光十色絢麗多彩的顏色，容易使人眼花繚亂；紛繁嘈雜的音調，容易使入耳朵受到傷害；香馥芬芳、濃鬱可口的食物，容易敗壞人的口味；放馬飛馳醉心狩獵，容易使人心情放蕩發狂；稀奇珍貴的貨物，容易使人失去操守，犯下偷竊的行為。因此，聖人隻求三餐溫飽，不追逐聲色犬馬的外在誘惑。應該拋去外物的引誘來確保安足純樸的生活。
English Translation
Version 1：by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
Many colors blind the eyes;
Many tones deafen the ears;
Delicacies spoil the taste;
Riding and hunting make the heart go wild;
Hard-to-find treasures corrupt life.
In governing the people, the Holy One provides inner fulfillment,
not pleasures of the eye.
Thus, one thing is chosen and the other discarded.
Many tones deafen the ears;
Delicacies spoil the taste;
Riding and hunting make the heart go wild;
Hard-to-find treasures corrupt life.
In governing the people, the Holy One provides inner fulfillment,
not pleasures of the eye.
Thus, one thing is chosen and the other discarded.
Version 2：by John C. H. Wu
